New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Tuesday postponed his visit to New Caledonia that had been scheduled for later in the week, as violence broke out in the French Pacific territory.
A spokesperson for Peters said the decision had been made to postpone travel to Noumea, the capital, to allow authorities to fully focus on the current situation.
“We are aware of events in New Caledonia, and hope that peace and calm will prevail," the spokesperson said.
Protests and violence have broken out in New Caledonia ahead of a vote in the French National Assembly on changes to the New Caledonian constitution.
The French High Commission in New Caledonia said in a statement that overnight on Monday there had been further significant disturbances in Noumea and surrounding townships and these were ongoing.
It added that security forces had been mobilised, all gatherings had been banned in the greater Noumea area, and a curfew and liquor ban had been put in place.
